National Boy Scouts Day

National Boy Scouts Day, observed February 8th, marks the anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on February 8, 1910. The organization was founded by American publisher William D. Boyce, who was inspired after a chance encounter with the Scouting movement in London, where an unnamed boy scout reportedly helped him find his way through the fog and refused a tip, explaining he was simply doing his daily "good turn" as a Scout. That encounter led Boyce to bring the concept back to the United States, building on the broader Scouting movement founded a few years earlier in 1907 by British Army officer Robert Baden-Powell, who developed Scouting's outdoor skills, citizenship, and character-building curriculum. The BSA grew into one of the largest youth organizations in American history, known for badge-based skill development, camping and outdoor education, and its long-running Eagle Scout rank, the organization's highest achievement. The organization underwent significant changes in recent years, including opening membership to girls and rebranding some programs as Scouting America in 2024. On National Boy Scouts Day, alumni, current Scouts, and troops often mark the occasion with service projects, reunions, or reflections on the organization's history and values.